IAM trackday on Croft last Wednesday, turned out to be a really good day and the weather Gods were kind to us as well !! Quite enjoyed destroying the Panigale's rear tyre :- Needless to say, the Pani lapped up the track sessions, it was obvious that it was in the true environment it was designed for,the hangtime in the bends was great and it just shows you that riding it on the road doesn't begin to scratch its capabilities, it went like a stabbed rat!! I also used my Go Pro for the first time, I had it mounted in a few different positions using RAM mounts ( see pics below ) and I think its worked pretty well, ...but, this took me most of yesterday to put together, about 3 hrs to edit all the clips together and over 5 HOURS!! to upload to youtube, didn't get finished till after midnight!! There's a complete flying lap of Croft after 4:20 ish minutes so you can see which way the corners go, and as I say, its a first attempt ( and a first time on Croft ) so no music so you can hear the SuperQuadro engine bellowing out!! Turn it up LOUD Not sure if this link is working??
Just do it Shorty!...It was a really good day, Its been over a decade since my last track day, I so wanted to get the Pani on the track but with a good safety margin...by that I mean, not mixing it up with the tyre warmer / pattern fairing nutter brigade that will barge you off, out braking you up the inside into a corner etc, would hate to bin it on a track day for whatever reason, so on this everyone gave you a bit of space. Croft's not a bad little track, very right hand biased though and the instructors were good bloke's. My mate gave me a tip before I went and I didn't do it but wish I had - If you have a small haversack that you use on the bike, take some drinks and sarnies for your lunch, there is a chuck wagon in the pits and the grub's not bad, that's not the problem, but the queues at lunchtime are enormous! I know it sounds a bit anal taking your own grub, but I really wish I'd taken more notice of his advice, it would have saved loads of time. Get it booked and enjoy, hope you get as good weather as we did, Poucher
Done a couple at Croft and don't like it. Its bumpy as hell in all the places you don't want it to be i.e max lean areas. Got sideways through Jim Clark esses, nearly shat my leathers. I'll stick to Donington as my 'local' track.
Hmmm...I didn't notice it being really bumpy, but then again the local roads around here are like ploughed fields so anything after them feels smooth!!
My TD buddy lives in Darlington so it was a good venue travelwise. But even he's cooled towards Croft since he lost it through the chicane and bust his wrist and ankle. I know, I know.... It could have happened anywhere but pain and suffering plays with your mind. He's now not so keen on Croft.
Poucher, Can I ask what GoPro equipment it is you use in the video? I've wanted to something like that for some time but I've not a clue what to buy. The set up you have there looks ideal to me. Thanks.
Poucher, do you need to be a full IAM member to book on the August trackday. It has been a few years since I did one at Croft and since then I have to admit I have been put off by the number of people who turn up with what are effectively race bikes that they are not worried about crashing. That kind of day sounds like the right kind of environment for me!
Heads up... They're quite strict with the 102db noise limit too. A couple of 1199's were refused from what I remember. Take baffles if you've got them just to be on the safe side.
1976dc - have a look at this thread, it gives more detail on my Gopro setup :- 899 - Ram Stem Mount | Ducati Forum I use ram mounts rather than the placky things the Gopro comes with, I couldn't stop the rattling noise when I tried it on my mountainbike, so seeing as I use a ram ball on my lhs clip on for the Garmin Zumo I used that to mount the Gopro camera as well. Rear view uses a ram ball mounted where the footpegs used to be, fits perfect like it was designed for it!! rxs 851 - No need to be an IAM member at all, I'm not! You just need to get in soon as they fill up pretty quick, also you need to pay up front for them on the day you book, about £135 I think it was. Also like Mary-hinge says, the noise meter is located by a hut somewhere around the track, we were advised to roll-off there......but it never happened and we didn't get pulled. Poucher
Think I'm going to book. I did 2 track days 2 years ago but I got carried away with all the racer boys and crashed. My fault I know riding beyond my means. But now I'm after a calmer environment to go fast have fun but not kick the arse out of it. Did they do much teaching on the day? I really wanted to booked british super bike school but logistically it's a nightmare for me. Croft is about 10 min away.
Did they do a static test or just the ride by? My 1299 was on the 105 limit at Cadwell leant over at 45 degrees and only jsut scraped through :-/. I'm booked for the 17th August at croft.
